Uno

Uno is a variant of the card game Crazy Eights. They share the basic rules, but Uno includes some special action cards that changes the game somewhat.

Shuffle the cards and deal seven to each player. The rest of the cards are placed on the table, this is the draw pile. Turn over the top card and place it on the board, this is the first card of the discard pile. The active player must play a card on the discard pile. It much match the top card on either suit or number. For example, if the top card is yellow 3, he can play any yellow card or any card numbered 3, or he may play a Wild card. If he has no card to play, he must draw the top card from the draw pile. If this card matches then he may play. Then it it the next players turn.

The Special action cards

There are two kind of action cards, the ones who follows suit and those that don't (the black cards). The action cards and their action:

• Skip next player:The next player must pass
• Revert direction: Reverts the order of play (clockwise or counter.clockwise around the table)
• Draw 2: The next player must draw the two top cards from the draw pile an miss a turn
• Wild card: Changes suit in play
• Wild an draw 4: The most powerful card, change suit of play and makes the next player draw 4 cards from the draw pile and missing a turn.

End of game

When someone plays his last but one card, he must say "Uno". If he misses to do this, he gets a penalty of two cards from the draw pile. The player who gets rid of all hios cards, is declared the winner.

Popular and well-known

Uno is a game I guess most of you have tried. It has been a major sales hit in many countries. Mattel has also published a lot of spin-off games, like Uno Dice and Uno Junior. In Norway (and Germany, I guess), we also have the "pirate" version Vriompeis. In 2001 Uno celebrates it's 20th. birthday. It was in 1971 that Merle Robbins made this game to play with his family. Today it is published by toys giant Mattel, is published in 80 countries and sold 150 million copies world-wide!

I've played a lot of Uno through the years, but I feel what I once did for this game. Luck plays too much, you have no control of your own destiny. When leaving for holiday, Uno is no longer packed in the bag, that space is now occupied by other, and far better, card games.

Reader comments

From Knut Andreas Ramsrud, Norway, I have received the following variant:

Any player can at anytime play a card identical to the last played card - with the exception of the zero cards there are two of each card in the deck. If a player "brakes in" like this, play continues with the player sitting next to him.

This variant adds a whole new level to the game. It is necessary to react and play fast - if you wait too long you run the risk of someone playing a card before you. I know that this is a widespread variant, I have run into many other people that play with this variant.

This way Uno becomes more of a skill game, and a good indication of this is that it is usually the same people that wins over and over again. I hope that this variant can contribute to a more joyful game of Uno.

dan:

if there is a red 5 then you can put down one or more cards. for example player 1 puts down a yellow 9 and player two puts down a yellow 8 and a red 8. that person is allowedto do such thing.

David Barker:

I think I've invented a fun and relatively simple card game. What steps do I take to become the next Merle Robbins, author of UNO?

John:

I am looking for an early copy between 1971 and 1977. The box was green at that time. If anyone knows where I can find one email me.

Dawn:

If anyone here knows where I can buy NSYNC uno cards email cherubrockr@aol.com. I cant find them anywhere. thanks

Green Faerie:

whenever my brother and i play, we add this rule, if you dont have a playable card, you have to keep drawing untill you get one, ive had to draw up to 20 cards in a row this way, it lengthens the game and makes it more challenging. for some odd reason we call it the Austrailian version. does anyone know if there is a PC version of the game?

Aadrian Miller:

I love the game. I helps me relax. I also enjoy beating my girlfriend. Ha. Ha. Ha.

Max H:

Anyone know where I might find UNO rules printed in French or Spanish? Mattel has them in Spanish, but they are not easily reproduced due to the size of the document.

Mike V :

Thanks; i needed the rules.Its been so long since i played. Just played our first game of uno with my 7 yr old

Mabel :

Where can we buy a new deck of cards for the Attack UNO game? These do where out from time to time. I have looked at some stores and can't seem to find them. You do make these right?

Valerie Ratcliffe:

My sister has UNO and my grandchildren and my mother loves the game, but where can I buy it? We have looked in vain can you help. Thanks

Gina:

HI.. I would like to know if their is a site that I can download the game UNO? Thanks

Tonya:

http:www.sfgames.com/NetUno.html THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN GO TO PLAY UNO IT'S FUN TOO.IT IS THE ORIGINAL GAME , PLUS YOU CAN ADD UPDATAS.

Richard :

My computer screwed up three weeks ago and I lost my UNO game. Can someone tell me where I can find this game and download it again. I would sincerely appreciate it.

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